Frozen Vegetable and Fruit Recall Expands to Walmart and Other Brands

By DOUG GROSS (Patch Staff)

BEDFORD, MA - CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Wash., has expanded its voluntary recall of 15 frozen vegetable items to include all “frozen organic and traditional fruits and vegetables” labeled under 42 different brand names, including Walmart's Great Value brand.

“We are performing this voluntary recall in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the company explained a media release issued through the FDA. More below

Listeria contamination can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. It is most especially dangerous to the young, frail and elderly, according to the CDC. It also poses a concern for those with weakened immune systems and women who are pregnant. Symptoms of infection include high fever, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women are also possible.

CRF’s initial voluntary recall was announced just over a week ago after concerns about possibleListeriacontamination arose.

The recall now includes all products “manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014,” the media release noted. All affected products have best by or sell by dates between April 26, 2016, and April 26, 2018. The recall includes some 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brand names.

The types of fruits and vegetables included in the recall run the gamut. They include broccoli, butternut squash, corn, Italian beans, kale, lima beans, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cherries and more.

“We apologize for any concern or inconvenience this expanded recall has caused our customers and consumers who enjoy our products,” company officials said. “We are issuing this release to alert consumers not to eat these products."

Anyone who purchased products included in the recall may return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. Consumers with questions can call CRF's consumer hotline at 844-551-5595, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

CRF suspended operations at its Pasco facility on April 25. A thorough review will be conducted before operations resume.

The CDC has linked CRF products to the sickening of seven people from three states, the release noted. Two of these people later died, but “Listeria was not the cause of death in either person.”

All retailers who received shipments of the potentially contaminated products have been notified, the company said. Products involved in the recall were shipped to all 50 states and some Canadian provinces. Some of the brand names included are Bybees, Columbia River Organics, Organic by Nature, Earth’s Pride, Correct Choice, Chef Maxwell, Great Value and Wild Oats. For a complete listing of all recalled products, visit the FDA online.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, by Amada44

(Patch's Sherri Lonon contributed to this report.)